Robot bowling device



Julie 8, 1943.

I. H. M FALLS ROBOT BOWLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IN VENTCR.

865 61 if, [kw/vs HMaF/ms @HYTORNEY Jun s, 1943. I. H. MbFALLS 32,321,553

ROBOT BOWLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 194g 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

5 INVENTOR.

' JRV/NE HMaFHLLs @ATTOPNEY Patented June 8, 1943 l ROBOT BOWLING DEVICEIrving H. lVlcFalls, Mount Vernon, N. I, assignor to FrankBloise, NewYork, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1940, Serial No. 368,154

3 Claims.

This invention relates to amechanical automaton, particularly to anautomatic robot bowling device, that may be used in combination withminiature bowling alley-table for amusement p1aces,.or for home use.

The main object of this invention, is the automatic robot device whichis so constructed as to imitate the form and motion of a person bowling,the form design being the general appearance of mechanical robotfigures, and is provided aprojector mechanism such as a movable pivotalarm normally held under spring tension abutting a stationary stop, butwhen pulled back by manual means after a miniature bowling ball has beenplaced onto an extended finger at the lower part of the inner levermember, it increases in tension so that when the arm is released by themanual means, it rebounds against the stationary stop, and in doing socreates a hammerlike blow thereon, suificiently to liberate the ballfrom its finger holding position to catapult the ball onto the floor ofthe miniature bowling alley provided upon a folding or fixed table, atone end having the standing pins that are to be. bowled over, the usualtabulation of strikes,- spares and score being kept as in any realbowling game of the large standard alleys.

Another important feature of this invention, is the miniature bowlingball and the attaching means to the movablepivotal arm of the robot,

in which an inner tubing member or tubular bushing is firmly securedinto the bored portion of the ball, this tubular bushing providingwearable and precise means to seat the ball onto the finger member ofthe movable pivotal arm, the

shape of the finger member being made of an elongated looped wire. thatprovides a three point suspension for a yielding wedged fit into tubularbushing of the ball which is balanced. ina three point suspensionthereon, for the correct catapult delivery therefrom.

Another important feature of this invention, is the turntable providedfor turning the robot and its bowling arm slightly for the desired ballrielivery, this turntable being arranged preferably on the right sideportion of the bowling floor,

through which an upright support or stanchion, is secured in a swiveljoint, the robot and bowling arm being integrally secured onto saidupright support or stanchion, to which a rodhandle having a bowling ballminiature is attached, which the player operates slightly to the left orright for the desired catapult delivery of the ball.

Another important feature of this invention,

is the adaptation of a unique concession design, wherewith a colorfuldesign of the robot bowler is lighted up by electric lights, and thepivotal arm is moved back and forth showing ball delivery.

Other features of this invention will appear as the description proceedsin the following specification, accompanied by the annexed drawings, inwhich Figure l-is an elevational view of the right side of the robotdevice which shows the movable pivotal'arm that catapults the bowlingball therefrom.

Figure 2 is asimilar view, showing the same pivotal arm having theminiature bowling ball seated onto the yielding finger member extendingfrom the lowermost portion of the pivotal arm pulled-back to deliver itshammer-like blow against the stop pin for catapulting the ball therefromas shown'in dot-dash lines.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the device initsinoperative position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View on line 4-4 of Figure2, showing in detail the wire made finger that allows a wedging fit ofthe tubular bushing formed integrally with the miniature bowling ball.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the left arm side of the robot deviceshown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7.

Figure 6 is a front view in elevation of the same robot, device.

Figure '7 is a rear ,elevational view with the cover plate removed,disclosing the inner mechanism within the main housing member formns,the robot design.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on a reducfidsg-ale of thebowling table, preferably of a folding type, upon which the robot deviceof this invention forms a combination therewith for b wling.

Figure 91s a plan view of the same bowling tab e sh wn in Fi re 8.

li'igure 10is asimilar plan view showing a plurality of bowling tablesarranged in formation of three or more, for use for park or resortconcessions,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional View on line H--li of Figure 4.

Figure l2 is a modification of the pull rod as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the floor of vabowling table T, onto which is mounted a robot device R, comprising astanchion-or an upright support 2 having a threaded end inserted into ahole 3 of the floor and secured by locknuts 4 and 5 and washers 6, allof which form a swivel joint. The stanchion extends upwardly in a slightcurved angle that provides a stooping position of the robot figure R,the curved portion 1 terminating into a free end portion 8 provided witha bore 9 through which is inserted the end 16 of the bell-crank leverII, this being done when the end It] is straight as shown in dotdasl1lines at [6a, thence is bent down as shown in full lines, so as tofirmly secure same into place by means of a coil spring 12 secured at 3with the other end secured at [4 to the pin l5 fixed into the end 8 ofthe stanchion 2.

The above mechanism is enclosed by a front housing member 2!] having asquare-like head 2 l, neck 2!, semi-octagonal belly 22, sides 23 and 24,leg 25 and foot 26. A right angle pin 21 has one end secured into thehole 28 of the right side 24 of the robot housing 28, and furthersecured and keyed at 29 through the hole 29a of the vertical portion ofthe stanchion 2. The belly portion 22 of the housing 25 has an extendedbolt or spacer 30 secured thereto by a screw 32, which is furthersecured to the inclined portion 8 by nuts 3|, which together with thepin 21 forms a firm and rigid assembly of the housing 26 to thestanchion or floor support 2.

A square-like arm member is slidable onto the long lever end Ha of thebell-crank H, and extends beyond the member 35 so as to provide for theprojecting finger member 36, which is formed of a wire having endsturned up at 36a, into the space in between the lever end Ila. and armmember 35 which is bored out to receive the above assembly, in which theends of the finger member 36 provide a wedging fit therewith. Ahandle-bar 4| is secured to a pull rod or wire 40 which extends to ahook anchorage at 40b to end Ila, the wire operating within an open bore400 of the sleeve member 40a secured into the arm member 35 which is outout at 42 so that the lever end Ila will contact the stop pin 2'! duringthe hammer-like blow thereon, later to be explained in operation.

A miniature bowling ball 5!] is secured to the end of a steering handle5| fixed to the vertical lower portion of the stanchion 2, in order tooscillate the robot and its bowling arm 35 and lever end Ila, eitherleft or right, which will be very slight, when picking off the remainsof a spare after the first ball missed a strike.

A square-like arm 4'! is provided on the left side 23 of the robothousing 26, which is formed integrally therewith or may be attachedthereto, this being optionally. A cover plate 43 is adaptable to beattached and removed from the main housin 20, as by screws 45, 46secured into lug portions 48 and 49, thereby enclosing all of theoperatin mechanism that operates the bowling arm 35 and lever end I la,and the finger member 36 for catapulting the ball D during the bowlinggame.

In Figures 8 and 9, a folding type of a bowling table T having the floorI, hereinbefore described in detail, is provided with runways or gutters60, 5|, pit 62, side walls 63, 64, high side and end boards, 65, 66, and61, the latter being covered with felt, or the like, as at 68, for theminiature bowling pins P to strike onto with the least possible sound.The table T is provided with legs 69 hinged at 69a, which are held intheir extended position as shown by hook bars or levers H3 inserted intosmall holes in the cross members 'H in between each pair of legs 69, 69.The legs and hook members are also shown in their collapsible or foldedposition as shown in dot-dash lines, and the high boards 65, 66 and 61may also be folded similarly, this being optionally.

In Figure 10, a plurality of fixed bowling tables T are shown, and havethe same bowling equipment as shown in Figures 8 and 9, with the robot Rin each floor alley. This plurality may be three or four adjoiningtables or alleys, and are used for concession places in resorts or otherplaces, where 2 throws of the bowling ball B for a stipulated sum of 5or 10 cents will allow for a prize for strikes or spares.

In operation, the player pulls back the pull rod 46 by the fingers ontothe handle bar 4 l, as shown in dot-dash form of Figure 2, and as theplayer releases the finger hold on the handle bar M, as also shown inthe horizontal position of the dotdash lines, the arm 35 and lever end Ila actuates towards the stop pin 27, thereby delivering a hammer-like ortappet blow against the pin 21, thus this action liberates the ball Bfrom its seated position onto the finger member 36, and catapults theball in the direction of the bowling pins P at the far end of thealley-floor I, if a strike has been made by knocking down all 10 pinswith the first ball, then a spare for the second ball totals same is inthe regular bowling game, but if a strike is not made by the first ballcatapulted, then the second ball to be bowled, must be directed in theright direction towards the remaining standing pins, in which thesteering handle 5| is operated slightly so the robot and ball is movedaccordingly by the swivel action of the turntable arrangement of thestanchion 2 onto the floor I, in this steering handle operation thespare or remaining pins standing may be bowled over. The usual block of10 frames constitutes a full bowling game, and the tabulation of thescoring is kept the same as a regular bowling game upon the full sizestandard alleys.

The approximate size of the table is 5 feet to 6 feet, the width 12inches over all, with a runr way on each side of the bowling fioor ofabout 6 inches depth which terminates into the end pit at the pin end ofthe floor-alley whereat the high sided and end boards rise about 2 feethigher than the side rails 63 and 64 of the tables T and 63' and 64' ofthe table T. The ball is about one and one-half inches in diameter andthe pins about 3 inches in height, the ball being designated by theletter B and the pins by the letter P.

The ball is made of solid wood with a metallic bushing 60 which istubular, so as to allow the seating of the ball onto the wire fingermember 36 of the bowling arm 35 and lever end Ha, this finger memberbeing formed that with the upturned looped end 36b, which is taperedconverging from the larger width adjacent its fixed position onto thelever end Ila, and forms a three point wedging and suspension of theball B when seated thereon, the yielding side wire portions of thelarger width portion of the finger member 36 contacts the inner circularpart of the tubular bushing 80, clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, thethree point contacts being designated at 82, 83 and 84.

The robot R as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 is about one half ofthe actual size, but it is to be understood that the size may vary inproportion to size of the bowling alley used in combination with therobot bowler R, as in use for concessions, the table is about eight feetlong, and the robot device R about 9 inches high, while in home use, thetable length is about sixe feet, and the robot device about 6 incheshigh.

The inclining housing 20 which is supported onto the upright post-likestanchion 2, i also provided with a leg portionfifi and a foot 9 I. Thehousing 20 and cover plate 43 form a split joint at 43a and a cut outportion around'the pivotal arm H. I

It is to be further noted that when the bowling ball B is seated ontothe finger member 36, that the inner bushing member 80 and thehorizontal prong portions 36" of the finger member 36 are in parallelrelation to each other, longitudinally, but in a transverse crosssection form a three point suspension, a hereinbefore described, shownclearly in Figures 4 and 11.

In Figure 12, a miniature ball ila may be secured to the end of the pullrod 40, in place of the bar ii, if so desired, in order to adopt thebowling ball feature as much as possible.

It is to be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative, butare nevertheless a perfeet Working model, and in combination with tableT, scores of over 200 have been made often. When the handle 5[ is turnedvery slightly, it is held firm by the fingers of the player contactingthe floor I of the table to steady same when ball 13 is beingcatapulted. It has been found that the best position to deliver the ballis about one and one-half inches from the edge GM of the gutter orrunway 6| (or Bil), and from this position the robot R is fixedpermanently. However, if so desired, that the player would like toposition the robot in any place across, the floor I, then the robot Rand its supporting post-like stanchion may be shifted one way or theother across the floor to catapult the ball 13 as desired.

Similar parts will be designated by primed numerals of the originalnumeral, these primed numerals being in the alternative forms, such asfor example, of the hinged table '1, and fixed table T.

It is to be understood that any alteration in the parts shown in thedrawings and described hereinbefore, may be changed or improved tobetter same, just so same comes within the scope of the appended claimsand the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a bowling game device of the character described, a robot figurehaving a pivotal arm, the free end of which abuts a stop-in thereon,

said arm normally held under suitable spring action therewith, said freeend having a finger member extending therefrom, said finger member beinga flexible fine wire looped upwardly at its extreme end portion, wherebya miniature bowling ball with a hole therein, may be held onto saidflexible wire by a three point suspension, means to draw back said armunder said action, and when released, said arm strikes against saidstoppin, thereby catapulting said ball from its wire support onto thebowling floor in the direction of the standing pins thereon. v

2. In a bowling game device of the character described, a miniaturerobot figure and bowling alley, said robot figure provided with apivotal arm having its free end normally abutting a stoppin therewith,the free end provided with a finger member, said finger member being afine wire arranged in a looped manner in which the wire portionsconverge from its larger width to an upturned looped end thereof,whereby a miniature bowling ball with a hole therein, is seated andwedged thereon in a three point contact and suspension, suitable meansto operate said arm whereby said arm is drawn backwardly under springaction and when released said arm strikes said stop-pin, therebycatapulting said ball from its wedged position and said three pointcontacts of said wire finger member, towards the miniature bowling pinsin play therewith.

3. In a miniature bowling game device of the character described, arobot figure arranged onto the end of a miniature bowling alley, apivotal arm provided onto said robot figure, said arm normally abuttinga stop-pin therewith, said arm having a pull wire member extendingtherefrom, the lower free end of said arm provided with a wire fingermember, said wire member having a larger width converging into anupturned looped end portion, whereat a miniature bowling ball having ahole therein, may be seatedonto said finger whereby the hole may contactonly the larger width and upturned looped end of said wire fingermember, said larger width yielding so as to provide a wedging fit forsaid hole and ball, said pull wire member being adapted to be operatedto be operated by a player, whereby said arm is drawn backwardly underspring action, and when released, said arm strikes said stop-pin andcatapults said ball from its wedged and seated position, in thedirection towards miniature bowling pins at the other end of said alley.

IRVING H. MCFALLS.

